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Friday, August 3, 2012

Screech? Squeal? Have happy heart palpitations? Jump up and down like a giddy school girl? Panic? Clean? Paint? Project? Feel excited? Nervous? Curious? Research? Question things {everything!}? Bite off more than you can chew? Catch yourself smiling? Make seventeen "to do" lists in your sleep? Escape? Read? Pin things? Do random cartwheels? Talk about it endlessly to your spouse?

I am pretty sure I did all of those things and then some... maybe even multiple times!

I know I didn't really spill much ahead of time... maybe because I was scared it was all just a dream and I wanted to be sure it was 100% real, but in the end, it was a real dream!

I have been a long time reader of Storage magazine. In fact, I was recently looking for some reads to take on a boat ride, and I was giggling to myself how many Storage mags I was hoarding...

I even found one from '09. Love that. BHG runs a quarterly publication of their Storage mag, and it is always full of pages upon pages of inspiration and great product ideas.

So, the day I found out they were interested in photographing our home for an upcoming issue, I just may have gone out to celebrate with the kids and hubs. It will go down in history of one of my favorite days.

But here is the thing. As excited as I was, I was also nervous! I mean, it is one thing to loooove magazines and use them for ideas and inspiration, but it's another to have a home that is "magazine worthy". Because that just doesn't seem to be us. Do I love to organize? Yes. Do I love a pretty clean home? Absolutely. Do I love to project, DIY, paint and build with the hubs? I could do it daily. Have I dreamed about the day that I could be featured in one of my favorite glossy mags, since I was a little lady? You betcha. But the reality of it all is that we are a busy, crazy family of five plus two furry pups and a fish. We are dirty. We are messy. My boys love to run their cars and trucks into freshly painted trim. We ding walls moving furniture. The boys spray the windows with squirt guns two seconds after I wash them. They play in their sand box and bring half of it back inside. They run through the house without stopping to think to take their shoes off. So do we. Our dogs shed in crazy amounts so the kids think dust bunnies are just another pet to play with. We love our home but we also live in our home.

But you know what? BHG was down with that. All of that. Whew.

It was amazing to me how quickly the few short months went, that I had to prepare for the shoot. I instantly began to assess our home and each space I knew they were going to be photographing {boy's shared bedroom, dining room, pantry, living room/entry, studio, laundry room, playroom, master bedroom/dressing room}. My crazy brain took over. Not the logical thinking brain... the brain that was instantly obsessed with trying to make every room more awesome than it already was. Looking back now that it is all said and done and I am clear minded again, they wanted to photograph our home based on what they had already seen. Not because of what I wanted to do. So were all of the updates, projects and changes we made completely necessary? Nope. But hey, we love our home even more now that they are done, so it was worth it anyway.

And the kicker is that we had two boys in baseball since April, which means that we had baseball about four nights per week and tournaments on the weekends {always with travel of course!}. Plus B runs a golf league every week and the kids have had daily sports and activities, not to mention we planned and hosted a birthday party for our two birthday boys and celebrated an anniversary in there too. So if you were to ask me how we accomplished everything I have shown you, plus oodles of other behind the scenes projects that I haven't blogged about yet, I wouldn't know how to answer that. It was a whirlwind of late nights {projects typically started once the kids were in bed for the night}, play dates with grandma and grandpa and friends for the kids, help from my assistant Emily, help from relatives, eating quick meals, taking a few days off from work and blogging.... This is where I tear up thinking about how fortunate we are to have the help we do, and where I virtually hug them all in front of y'all to show my gratitude. Especially my husband who put me first for months and did anything I asked of him, stayed calm under pressure, kept me grounded and said no to things in his life to say yes to me. I guess now you know why the hubs and I took a last minute getaway to the lovely state of Florida...

So, maybe I went a little overboard, but wouldn't you if your studio looked like this a few weeks prior to a Better Homes and Gardens crew showing up on your doorstep?

Please still love me after seeing that picture...

The good thing is that I was in my element. Projecting, painting, high fiving, smiling, singing, dancing and enjoying every minute of it. I also got to do some important house shopping, much of it was thanks to some built up credit over at Joss & Main. I will have to do a post on some of the fun purchases I was able to make from there and at a couple of other stops along the way.

So my advice, do the projects for you and because you want to, not because a photo shoot is happening {they didn't ask me to do a single thing, it was all me trying to be an overachiever}. We had been wanting to do them anyway, so the shoot just lit a fire under us, but some of the things probably could have waited. I created a bit of my own chaos. Including selling our kitchen table on Craigslist two weeks before BHG showed up, since I had been wanting to replace it for the last couple of years anyway...

The weekend before they showed up, my oldest had an out of state tournament a few hours away, which meant that all of the last minute scrubbing, washing and cleaning had to be condensed and prioritized. I read a few of my favorite blogs that had also gone through the experience of a photo shoot to see if I could pick up tricks, ideas, etc.... of what was important and what wasn't as much. I skipped washing some of the slipcovers and decided not to iron our sheets, but scrub and scrub we did. And I labeled everything I could think of labeling!

Once the projecting finally slowed down and the cleaning was done {at 4:00 a.m. the morning before they arrived}, I could finally breath again. Day one was just a walk through with the crew and once they arrived, I was instantly put at ease. They were so kind and amazing and understanding of the home's imperfections. Here they are now!

{Jay, Molly, Me, Megan}

They explained how the process was going to work:

They have a shoot list of everything that was planned on being captured over the course of the week.

They bring in all sorts of fabulous rugs, flowers and accessories to help tell a story of the space and highlight the current systems even more.

They prop and stage out the areas, and then move on without us even knowing they were there. Not a thing was left out of place. I was so impressed!

What they didn't share upfront, but I learned along the way:

They are amazing at what they do. I got to take a sneak peek at the photos they were taking and I fell even more in love with my own home. They have an amazing ability of capturing the story of the space.

They are incredibly fun and know how to have a good time. I could often here them singing from different rooms in the house and chatting with the boys.

Back to the flowers and accessories.... day one and our home was filled beautiful blooms.

The ranunculus were my favorite!

And a few days prior to the shoot... packages started arriving....

However, throughout the course of the week, most of the boxes didn't even get opened. The stylist that came used many of the items we already had on hand in our home {shopping from room to room of course}, and was able to save from using many of the props that were shipped.

This was awesome because it was really interesting to see how many of the items we have chosen to use in our home, are versatile enough to move around and be used in many of our spaces. It was also great to see how we could switch things up in ways I had never thought of. She did bring some rugs in however, just because I haven't purchased any for a few of the spaces they photographed, and I didn't want her take them away. The one for the dressing room was especially dreamy, but for over $600 on discount, I still couldn't take the plunge to snag it up, so my search continues.

They spent a few hours or more in each space they were capturing. They set up the equipment, set up the shot, took the photo, analyzed it on the screen, moved some things, took it again, analyzed, etc....

It was a dreamy experience to see how the behind the scenes go down at a photo shoot to capture beautiful interior images. Everything is pre-planned, well thought out and they are very particular about getting it all just right. It also told me the story that they have to move furniture around so that it makes sense in the shot, but not necessarily in the space, rugs were rolled if they didn't fit the space, piles of accessories sit behind the camera and as my eight year old learned and reminded me throughout the week, "they are magic" at making everything look dreamy perfect for the final product.

I especially love that they captured us as a family using the storage we have put in place.

{sorry, taken quick with my iphone}

They snapped a few shots of the kid's in their personal spaces as well, and those are the ones I am most excited to see!

After they took photos of the individual rooms, they also took more detailed shots of many of the smaller systems we have in place. Those were done by setting up an area at the dining table and using pretty paper backdrops. I took mental notes on many of their tricks!

They were in town for an entire week, doing their walk through on Monday, shooting for three full days and wrapping things up on Friday. By the time they were leaving, it felt like we were saying goodbye to family.

I have to thank everyone over at BHG and the Storage crew, for being so thoughtful and kind and for this incredible opportunity. Some kids grow up dreaming of becoming a firefighter, veterinarian, all-star football player, Miss U.S.A or the president. I grew up drawing pictures of houses and building mansions out of Lego. I organized my bedroom, locker, first apartment, office desks and now my home with thoughtfulness and love, while spending every spare second looking at my shelter mag collection and dreaming of the day that we would maybe fill a page with our story. Better Homes and Gardens really have made this imperfect small town gal's big dreams come true and for that, I will be forever grateful!

We are slated to be featured in the Spring issue of Storage, which comes out at the end of December. I am sure you will know when it hits the stands, I will be shouting it from the rooftops!

So please forgive me as I take a few weeks to sleep, play, relax and enjoy what is remaining of summer, and stay tuned for a few more recently finished projects along the way!

This is so cool!!!! How exciting (and stressful getting everything ready)! I am really excited and happy for you! One question though, when does that issue hit the shelves? I definitely have to pick that one up!

Congratulations! What an honor to be photographed by BHG! Although I have to say, I'm surprised they haven't photo'd you sooner, you are so fantastic :) Keep up the great work, you're certainly my organizing inspiration!

That is so great! Can't wait to see the feature. And totally off topic but how adorable are you!? What a sweet little 'crew' pic. It's fun to see you step out from behind the lens once in awhile :). Congrats again - you deserve it!

Congrats!! Good for you! I discovered your blog several weeks ago and all I can say is WOW you really deserve it.

Questions for you - Are those the Martha Stewart book plates from Staples on the blue y weave baskets and what font did you use to make the labels? I am totally stealing that idea from you for my garage!! I will send you pictures when done :)

What a dream come true/honor! I'm so happy for you, well deserved. I LOVE your blog and this one especially so so sweet and personal.. a real joy to read! I can't wait to snatch up a copy of the Storage Mag - I have a few at home too - love to see what they do with small spaces like mine. Congrats again!

Congratulations! I was fascinated reading about the whole experience - I can feel your stress and elation (mostly elation, but I would be a little stressed before that too!). Can't wait to see the issue when it hits!

Thank you! I brought the stress upon myself, but it was more of a happy stress if that makes it better! :) But yes, we feel so good to have accomplished so much, and can't wait to kick my feet up and play extra hard with the kids for the last month of summer before school starts.

That is soooooo AWESOME!!! I can't wait to pick that issue up. I already love your home the way it is, but I can't wait to see how they place it in the magazine. Congrats to you!!! You deserve it Jen. You are a very talented woman and should be very proud of yourself. Thank you for always inspiring all me to organize more, now I just have to get to those projects in my own home. Have a great weekend!!! :)

Congratulations!!! That is so exciting and very well deserved:) Do you think you'll be able to post the article and the photos on the blog when the magazine comes out?? That way, us European readers can enjoy it too! xx Anna

I've always been curious as to whether you get some sort of payment for them coming in and photographing your home. I hope I am not being too nosey, and I surely don't need to know how much (if they do). I've just always wondered if that was the case.

Congratulations, Jen! Can you believe the short amount of time in which you've gone from sahm-doing-daycare to organizing/blogging celebrity?! I hope you can enjoy a few weeks of rest now. :) I've always been a cleaning/organizing junkie, great at the organizing part but the style ... ahhh, the style, will always elude me. Therefore, I love, love, LOVE your blog.

I really can't believe it at all really {and I am totally blushing at your celebrity comment since I don't think of it that way}. I do think about the way my life as evolved over the past few years and am grateful for all the opportunities I have had along the way and for all of the amazing people I have met because of it! :) Excited to see what the next couple of years brings!

WOW! How cool is THAT!? VERY cool! Congratulations, and I look forward to being reminded about the magazine coming out. By the way, I am so glad you showed that one before picture of the room. I have one right now, and that made me feel so much better. We just moved in and my craft room is now just a storage room. Hopefully, soon, I will have my craft room!

Awwww, we project and move stuff around so much, we get piles and temporary "storage" rooms. I can feel a little overwhelmed by it at times, but then I just remind myself that it means more organizing and that we are accomplishing something else because of it! :)

Awesome! I can't wait to see it! I've actually never read Storage before, but it looks wonderful. I've wondered a few times over the past few months how you're able to makeover so many spaces and do it so quickly. Now I know your motivation! ;)

I love to know that they bring accessories and things to enhance what you already have -- makes me feel a little better knowing that a stylist looks after those details in home magazines as they do with fashion mags, and not every home/person just looks naturally "perfect"! So fun to see behind the scenes. Congratulations!

I don't believe you can {I have looked into this quite a few times and have never found a way}. It does typically stay on stands for a quarter at a time, and Target and most bookstores do carry it so I am constantly stalking the stands for the most recent issue.

Wow! That is an amazing experience! Congratulations! Your ideas are great; you were very deserving of your moment! I am so glad to know that many of the homes that we see in there look a lot like mine before they are fancied up! I am always so concerned by the finger prints that my boys leave everywhere! lol Maybe my home is okay after all. ;o) Carmen B.www.thetriplebs.com

I really enjoyed reading your story of the photo shoot & about what goes on 'behind the scenes'. When I need inspiration for a project your blog is my first port of call, so it is no surprise to me you have been featured in this magazine. Congratulations & enjoy your well deserved rest (& Bryan too!) xx

Congratulations! I think I love you even more to know that you had a crazy room that looks like one of mine. Thanks to you, I am now looking at spaces in my home with organization ideas in mind - thoughtfully planning. I know it'll take a while, but I'm looking forward to getting it done!

Congratulations! OMG I am so happy you had a catchall room too! (even though yours still looks organinzed!) Thank you for always being so inspiring! Your blog is my morning pit stop while I drink my coffee. You deserve alot of well rested time.

Congrats - that's just awesome! And even though your house looks marvellous and will be just fantastic in the magazine - I think we all love you even more after seeing the picture of that messy studio ;-) xo Anja

Oh my gosh Jen. I am so giddy for you. I completely understand the "crazy lady" :-) I LOVE BHG and ADORE your blog so it is about time BHG get with it and feature you. Hee hee. I am even more excited for the next storage magazine now! HUGE HUGS sent through airmail.

Congratulations!! WOW! But honestly I am not at all surprised that they wanted to feature your home! It is incredible! I just found your blog this summer and have spent the last month getting organized! You are such an inspiration to me. I am a teacher so I have really tried to take advantage of my time this summer to make life easier when the school year begins. I have even taken some of your ideas into my classroom. I have to admit organization is something I have to work at, as I get older I have taken the less is more approach (thanks to Peter Walsh!) You are helping me beyond belief...and I thank you for that. Now I want a subscription to Storage so I can get more ideas and see your spread!! Congratulations again, enjoy the rest of the summer making memories with your beautiful family...you deserve it!

I didn't even know there was a magazine called Storage--the name alone makes me want to subscribe immediately!! It totally appeals to my organizing self!!

Great post--I've always wondered about what goes on behind the scenes of photo shoots of real homes. I'm actually glad to hear that you were cleaning until 4 a.m., because it reminds me that the beautiful spaces I see in magazines are not perfect all the time. It does take work to keep homes clean, tidy, and beautiful!

WOW! You were already my inspiration for both my home and second grade classroom. I share your blog with everyone I know, too! I've not heard of Storage magazine, but am dying to go get a copy. I will try to make myself wait for "your" issue!

Congratulations! You deserve this honor! I came here frustrated with my own home, searching for help getting organized. When I began reading about how your life with kids is messy too, and I saw your studio photo, tears came to my eyes. I think I am beating myself up lately for being NORMAL. Life is messy. You just do the best you can to keep up. Thanks for sharing that side with us. It means more than you'll ever know! And I can't wait to see the issue!

Awww, I am glad it helped show that no one is perfect. Just because I like to organize, we have areas that suffer when other areas flourish. We are human and you should never feel bad for having a happy and lived in home!

Well timed too for your tips as I have a photo shoot at my home with the New York Times on Monday! Although the focus of the shoot is me, not my home, I know it's the backdrop and have been cleaning and prepping for days.

How adorable are you?? And thank you times one million for showing that "less than perfect" shot... it makes me feel so much better knowing that you are human and not a robotic organizing machine! ;) Can't wait to see the mag! Looks like you had fun - now go take some time off! We'll still be here when you get back!

Jen - I love you more after seeing that picture of your office! Congratulations on such an achievement - it's totally well deserved. And thank you for sharing the behinds the scenes pics - so interesting to see. On a side note - how you felt when BH&G approached you, is how I felt when I became a contributor on here, so you're completely passing on that amazing feeling. Thank you! x

Jen- Wow what an honor! You definitely deserve it- your ideas and projects are truly an inspiration! Because of your blog my home is a more organized and beautiful place`~ so thank you :) I recently ordered your calender and I LOVE it. It is just perfect and exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for all of your hard work and I hope you are able to kick back and enjoy the last couple weeks of summer!!!

Jen what an amazing post!! I loved reading it, and I am so excited for you.

First, THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing the photo of your studio area all taken apart. I'm trying to find the words as to why it helps so much to see it, but anyway, it does. I also LOVED seeing a review of all your latest projects. Yes, you HAVE done all of those!!! Darlin' you are something of a superhero to me, and by the way, you look amazing in the photo after you were up all night cleaning!

Second, THANK YOU for the reminder that we should take on the beautifying projects in our homes so that we who live there can enjoy the beauty. I spent three frantic but magnificent weeks bringing my old home into picture-perfect glory only to wish I had done it year earlier. That story is nothing new of course. But this blog post gave me new inspiration Jen!

Jen, all of this couldn't have happened to a better person. Your blog is one of the first blogs that I've followed. I get freaked having family and friend's over. I can't imagine what it would be like to have a magazine to come over. It must have been exciting and fun, once they were there. Looking forward to seeing the Spring Storage Issue.

I get all crazy when we have company, too! Even dear friends. I'm all, "Oh, no...what if they have to go UPSTAIRS to gather their kid!" I hate being that way; would love to be an open book. I love this blog and am trying to purge our home of clutter! :-)

I would be twice as freaked out and would accomplish only about 25% of the work.

Your home is absolutely perfect for the magazine. It is probably only a matter of time til they ask you to be on the staff. Most of us don't live in large homes and you have come up with so many ideas that work well in our smaller homes.

Oh my goodness, how exciting! Congratulations! I cannot believe all the work you poured into your home in the months and weeks and days beforehand, but it was all worth it. Your home is looking great and I'm sure it'll be even more spectacular in the magazine!

How exciting!!! Congratulations!!! It must feel so wonderful to be recognized for your awesomeness! I love your blog. We will be moving in a few months and I am dying to try my hand at the organization and home decor ideas you have. Thank you for all your ideas. Can't wait to purchase my copy of your shoot! So exciting!

Congratulations! What an opportunity. I have never purchased that magazine before, but will definitely be picking up your debut edition! And by the way, I love you more now that you shared an "imperfect" picture. Looks more like I would expect with your busy family of 5! Glad to know that even amazing decorators/organizers like you have moments in the process before everything comes together. Thanks for sharing as always. You're an inspiration!

As I said before, that's so freaking exciting!! And you totally deserve it. Your home and your ideas are fantastic. :) Can't wait to see the magazine. Congrats, lovely lady! And remember, you are awesome.

Jen! I just poured over every word of this! I can't even imagine. I would have had the crazy to do list as well. I love hearing all of the behind the scenes secrets and I know that you all just had the best time bonding and enjoying the whole process. SO crazy proud of you. SO thrilled you had this opportunity.

i am looking for one of your blogs from pintrest is this one.... http://pinterest.com/pin/200269514650493377/ and i was wondering how you did it i love it to death and i wanna do it to my own house please if you could email me your blog portion of that i would love it so much thank you please please if you would thank you

This is such an inspiring post, Jen. I am so happy for you and your family, but especially you, for making your dream come true. Much success and happiness is being sent you way from WISCOSNSIN!!! I'll be on the lookout for the magazine come December!

Hi Jen,I was wondering where the pretty blue fruit bowl with your apples in it is from and the adorable stool next to your buffet? I saw the cake plate was from Joss and Main, were these from there as well? I can't wait to see what other goodies you got from Joss and Main, I love your post today about your cute girlie vanity!

The apples are actually setting on a second cake plate that was part of a set of three. I believe that is the one you were mentioning, and yep, Joss & Main! :) The stool was actually from a local "Junk Bonanza" thrift event here in the twin cities.

Hi there, I am new to this organizational thing and NEED all the help I can get. Thanks to you I am making small strides. This magazine is right up my alley - where can I get a subscription? There is nothing on the BHG website about it?

OK. This is the first time I came across this site and I must say, I can definitely see why BHG chose you. I wish I could get organized but every time I make an attempt, I swear things get worse. Someone once told me that an area is organized if you know where a particular item was. Here lately, it just ain't working. Boy do I wish I was rich so I could pay you (the team or a whole company to do my house) I am still young (well, less than 50)but my health prevents me to do much.Keep up the good work and I will just keep salivating at your home. Lisa

This is my first time on your blot -- hopped over from pinterest. I have that issue of storage ( I get every one too!) Now I have to go back and look at it with new eyes. How very exciting for you (and so cool!)

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